Absentee Payroll Funding (AP)
Helps employers cover manpower costs when they send employees for SWDA-funded courses. Claimed after the course is completed.
- Support
- $4.50 per training hour for SC/PR/LTVP+ employees, capped at $100,000 per enterprise per calendar year. For Workfare Skills Support employees: 95% of hourly basic salary, capped at $13 per hour.
- Maximum funding
- S$100,000
- How to apply
- SWDA e-service (OurWorkforce / Enterprise Portal) with Corppass
- Apply before starting?
- No
Recent changes
Rates as of 1 Jul 2023 still shown in Oct 2026. Workfare Skills Support income threshold shown as $3,000 on OurWorkforce (TPGateway table still shows $2,500). No Budget 2026 change found.
Who is eligible
- Registered and operating in Singapore
- Course is SWDA-funded
- Employer makes CPF contributions for the employee
- Employee is SC, PR or LTVP+
- Not payable for on-the-job training hours
- For training outside working hours, employer must have an HR policy that pays overtime for training hours
- Workfare Skills Support rate: SCs aged 30+ (or persons with special needs aged 13+) earning average gross monthly income of not more than $3,000 over the past 12 months
Quick eligibility check
- 1. Is the training course SWDA-funded?
- 2. Do you make CPF contributions for the employee?
- 3. Is the employee a Singapore Citizen, PR or LTVP+ holder?
- 4. Has the employee completed the course?
- 5. Was the training classroom or structured training rather than on-the-job training?
- 6. If training was outside working hours, does your HR policy pay overtime for those hours?
0 of 6 answered.
What it covers
- Employee wages for hours spent attending SWDA-funded training
How to apply
- Inform the training provider before the course that the employer is sponsoring
- Employee attends and completes the course
- Log in and declare the employee's salary
- Receive the payout by PayNow
Processing time: About 2.5 weeks after salary declaration
Claims: Claim-based reimbursement after course completion. Employer declares salary; payout through PayNow in about 2.5 weeks. Only one wage compensation is paid for concurrent courses.
Documents you need
- Salary declaration for the trainee (basic hourly salary) in the e-service
- Course completion and attendance records (from the training provider)
- CPF contribution records for the employee (if requested)
- HR policy showing overtime pay for training outside working hours (if applicable)
- Corporate PayNow registration
Frequently asked questions
What is the Absentee Payroll Funding?
Helps employers cover manpower costs when they send employees for SWDA-funded courses. Claimed after the course is completed.
How much funding does AP give?
$4.50 per training hour for SC/PR/LTVP+ employees, capped at $100,000 per enterprise per calendar year. For Workfare Skills Support employees: 95% of hourly basic salary, capped at $13 per hour.
Who is eligible for AP?
Applicants must be registered and operating in Singapore. Course is SWDA-funded Employer makes CPF contributions for the employee Employee is SC, PR or LTVP+ Not payable for on-the-job training hours For training outside working hours, employer must have an HR policy that pays overtime for training hours Workfare Skills Support rate: SCs aged 30+ (or persons with special needs aged 13+) earning average gross monthly income of not more than $3,000 over the past 12 months
How do I apply for AP?
Apply through SWDA e-service (OurWorkforce / Enterprise Portal) with Corppass. Processing time: About 2.5 weeks after salary declaration.
What documents do I need for AP?
Salary declaration for the trainee (basic hourly salary) in the e-service; Course completion and attendance records (from the training provider); CPF contribution records for the employee (if requested); HR policy showing overtime pay for training outside working hours (if applicable); Corporate PayNow registration.
Sources
- Official page: https://www.ourworkforce.gov.sg/programmes-directory/programme/absentee-payroll-funding
- https://www.tpgateway.gov.sg/training-grants/training-grants-from-government-agencies/course-fee-grants-for-employers
Information last verified on 23 Oct 2026. Grant rules change often. Always confirm with Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) before you apply.